Health & Medicine
Should the European Union relax GMO clinical trial guidelines?
Four organisations representing pharmaceutical firms, biotech companies, universities, and research institutes are calling on the European commission to update, streamline ...
What do your Neanderthal genes do?
By sequencing a remarkably complete genome from a 50,000-year-old bone fragment of a female Neandertal found in Vindija Cave in ...
Humans are still evolving–the evidence is in how we age and who survives
Although human evolution is seen as in the distant past, every minute biological decision results in ongoing human natural selection ...
Muscular pigs in Cambodia raise false concerns about GMO technology, safety
Pigs are being bred on a farm in Cambodia, and their enormous size and hulking muscles are raising alarm. The ...
Inside Key Haven: GMO mosquito debate reached fever pitch in release town
In the Florida Keys, a referendum fight last year took on all the trappings of a modern-day political campaign – radio ...
Mass tragedies underscore desperate need for synthetic blood
Scientists have been working on creating synthetic blood for years now. The hope is that this substance will have a ...
Passage of Ugandan biotech law opens access to vitamin-fortified, disease-resistant crops
Genetically engineered crops that promise to benefit both farmers and consumers are poised to enter Uganda’s marketplace now that its ...
Video: Evolution at work–RNA in New York City mice has changed so they can eat fast food
With all its hustle, bustle, concrete, and congestion, they say New York City changes people. And that may be true, ...
Disease-resistant GMO tomato that could eliminate need for copper pesticides blocked by public fears
Field trials have shown that a disease-resistant GMO tomato variety eliminates the need for copper pesticides that pollute soil and ...
Analyzing Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock’s brain might illuminate ‘psychopathy’
It's easy to chalk up [Las Vegas mass shooter Stephen] Paddock's horrific actions simply to "evil," as politicians and media ...
Drug that ‘mutes’ defective genes that cause nerve disorders effective in trials
A crucial, late-stage clinical trial showed that the [nerve disorder drug patisiran] works—and that it’s safe. And now the biotech company ...
Different types of meditations affect your brain in unique ways
We are used to hearing that meditation is good for the brain, but now it seems that not just any kind ...
Predicting Alzheimer’s: 31-gene test may offer strongest risk assessment
The APOE4 e4 gene has long been associated with an elevated risk for alzheimer's. But a new test panel involving ...
Editorial: How to combat Congress’ growing anti-science attitudes
The White House and Congress have lost their way when it comes to science. Notions unsupported by evidence are informing ...
40 percent of cancer cases linked to lifestyle, obesity; minor impact of chemicals
Decades ago, when activist groups were promoting every trace chemical they could find as a carcinogen, the American Council on ...
Our Neanderthal ancestors affect how we look and act today
Neanderthals are the closest evolutionary relatives identified to date of all people living today. They are so close to us ...
Inserting CRISPR machinery into human cells to fight Huntington’s and Lou Gehrig’s
The gene-editing tool CRISPR is based on a natural defense system embedded in bacterial cells that recognizes and destroys invading ...
Artificial Intelligence may offer early Alzheimer’s diagnosis
Canadian researchers at McGill University believe they can predict Alzheimer’s disease up to two years before its onset using big ...
Is it better to be intelligent or a critical thinker?
You might imagine that doing well in school or at work might lead to greater life satisfaction, but several large ...
Unapproved artificial organs implanted in humans
Experimental implants manufactured at University College London were sent abroad and used on patients despite not having approval for human ...
India investigating reports of cotton farmers growing unapproved improved Monsanto GMO variety
A top Indian cotton-producing state has ordered an inspection of fields planted with an unapproved variety of genetically modified seeds ...
Questioning the benefits of caffeine for Parkinson’s patients
A few years ago we were told that something as basic as drinking coffee conferred benefits upon those with Parkinson's ...
The role of emotions in problem solving
What is the purpose of emotion? More elaborately, how do the psychological and neurological mechanisms of emotion underlie a person’s ...
University student reflection: Let’s take a balanced ethical and scientific look at genetic engineering
Rapid advancements in the realm of gene editing are raising all sorts of questions with social and ethical implications. But ...
Being obese doesn’t always mean you are metabolically unhealthy
To date, countless epidemiological studies have shown that as you move from a normal weight (BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) towards ...
Viewpoint: Glyphosate herbicide’s ‘tough year’ could get much worse
Monsanto’s flagship weed killer, Roundup, has had a tough year. And it could get worse. With Roundup at the center ...
Are you reading this because you want to? Or because the neurons in your brain want you to?
If you’ve ever read an article proclaiming that neuroscience disproves free will, you’ve probably heard of the Libet experiment. … ...